Navigating Business Disputes: Case Studies
Diverse Business Disputes, Exceptional SolutionsAt slnlaw, we have a rich history of successfully handling a wide range of complex business disputes. Our extensive experience spans cases involving breach of contract, unfair business practices, threats of non-compete enforcement, disputes over equity in a business, and failed real estate transactions. In each of these cases, our dedicated team of legal experts has worked diligently to protect our clients' interests and secure favorable outcomes. Explore our collection of case studies to gain insight into how we have effectively resolved intricate business disputes, delivering peace of mind and justice to our clients.
Navigating a Real Estate Dilemma
Our client, Daniel, found himself embroiled in a complex legal battle within the realm of real estate transactions. Daniel's story serves as a testament to our firm's unwavering dedication to justice and our commitment to securing fair compensation for those who have suffered damages.
The journey begins when Daniel was presented with an enticing opportunity to acquire a coveted piece of land in a highly desirable Massachusetts town. However, what seemed like a straightforward real estate deal quickly spiraled into a web of complications. The property owner, in a surprising turn of events, refused to transfer the deed and imposed unexpected demands. Read more here. Unraveling a Contractual Dilemma
Here, we unravel a high-stakes legal battle that ensnared a technology consulting services provider, known as Company A, and their adversary, Company B. This tale revolves around allegations of contract breach and claims of unjust enrichment, carrying substantial financial implications.
The crux of the conflict lies within a contractual agreement dating back to August 2009, where Company A engaged Company B for technology consulting services. As the contract's intricate provisions came into play, it became evident that the interpretation of a pivotal payment clause would be the linchpin of the ensuing legal drama. With mounting financial tensions, contractual complexities, and legal maneuverings, this case study promises a deep dive into the complexities of contract law and the quest for resolution in the face of formidable challenges. Read more here. A Legal Battle Born of Predatory Billing Practices
Our client, a convenience store proprietor, was thrust into a nightmarish ordeal—an assault at his store that left him with life-threatening injuries and set the stage for a complex legal battle.
Following the traumatic incident, representatives from a remediation company arrived at the scene, uninvited, as the injured proprietor received medical care. Their intrusion raised questions, especially with the sole presence of a local friend who occasionally assisted at the store. Initially, the friend sought to manage the cleanup herself, but the remediation company insisted on immediate action without disclosing costs. Pressured, the friend reluctantly signed a contract, unaware of the exorbinant amount of money the company would claim and later sue for. Read more here. |
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Unraveling a Family Business Feud
In the midst of a multi-generational, family-owned grocery business, a tumultuous and emotionally charged dispute unfurled between a brother and his sisters. Central to the conflict was a highly contentious issue—the brother's assertion that their father had entrusted him with the entirety of the business before his passing, a claim vehemently opposed by his sisters, who sought both a substantial role in the business's management and a share of its equity.
The sisters, having distanced themselves from active involvement in the business for years, left the brother to invest his own time, resources, and dedication, bearing the brunt of associated risks. Read more here.
The sisters, having distanced themselves from active involvement in the business for years, left the brother to invest his own time, resources, and dedication, bearing the brunt of associated risks. Read more here.
Navigating A Dispute Over Credit Card Processing Fees
In the competitive world of credit card processing services, a small business owner found himself entangled in a contentious dispute with the very processing company entrusted with handling his clients' financial transactions. This case study delves into the multifaceted challenges encountered by the business owner, including suspicions of underpayment in crucial residual payments, exacerbated by the processing company's opaque accounting practices. As tensions mounted, the processing company's response escalated to the abrupt termination of the business owner as their representative. Read more here.
Overcoming Non-Compete Challenges and Unpaid Wages
In this case study, a group of former employees embarks on a journey to create a new business, only to encounter unexpected obstacles in the form of a restrictive non-compete agreement imposed by their previous employer. The agreement's broad terms posed a significant threat to their entrepreneurial aspirations. Alongside this challenge, the entrepreneurs also sought to address a longstanding issue of unpaid wages from their previous employment. With determination and legal expertise, we partnered with these enterprising individuals to meticulously analyze the non-compete agreement's scope and legality, working tirelessly to empower them on their path to pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. Read more here.
Insurance Agent vs. Company: Legal Dispute
In the intricate realm of insurance, the dynamics between insurance agents and the companies they represent can become contentious. This case study delves into a legal battle between a former exclusive agent and a prominent insurance company, unraveling the complexities of their contractual relationship. It delves into allegations of non-compete violations, exploring the blurred lines of employment classification. The exclusive agent, although classified as an independent contractor, played a pivotal role in the company's core business, selling insurance policies. After the agent's contract termination and brief continuation of insurance sales, a lawsuit ensued, with the company alleging non-compete violations and the agent countering by asserting violations of labor laws due to the company's control and supervision over their work, as well as the exclusivity requirement. Read more here.
Disputed Equity: A Veterinary Clinic's Legal Battle
In this case study, the owners of a thriving veterinary clinic find themselves embroiled in a legal dispute that challenges the ownership structure of their business. Initially entering into an agreement with a family friend for financial support, the owners intended the contribution as a structured loan to facilitate the clinic's acquisition, while separately acquiring the real estate housing the clinic and their residence. After her son briefly worked at the clinic and departed, both he and his mother became plaintiffs in a lawsuit, asserting a 20% stake in both the clinic and the real estate. Despite not contesting the loan amount, the owners vehemently disagreed with the claim, emphasizing that their business and real estate acquisition had been self-financed without reliance on the plaintiffs. Read more here.
Non-Solicitation Breach and Defamation
This case study unravels a protracted legal dispute that unfolded between a former finance professional and his former employer, an asset management firm, with a focus on the breach of non-solicitation agreements and allegations of defamation. Initially, the employee faced performance challenges during his tenure at the firm, leading to his termination and the signing of a severance agreement. However, despite agreeing not to disparage the firm and acknowledging the validity of non-solicitation agreements, the employee swiftly reached out to former clients, soliciting their business away from the company and triggering the reset of the non-solicitation period. Matters escalated further when the employee sent disparaging and defamatory emails to 46 firm clients. Read more here.
Meet Our Business Attorneys
Emily Smith-Lee is the owner and founder of slnlaw. She is a 1996 graduate of Boston College Law School. She was previously a partner at the Boston office of a large international firm, where she worked for thirteen years with a focus on business litigation. In 2009, she started the firm that since became slnlaw, and has grown it from a solo practice to a five-attorney firm with multiple practice areas. She has been recognized as Massachusetts Superlawyer each year since 2013, and in 2018 earned recognition as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's Lawyers of the Year. She has written a book on employment law: Rules of the Road, What You Need to Know About Employment Laws in Massachusetts, and helped hundreds of small business owners with contracts, business transactions, employment law advice, business incorporation, and risk management. She has also litigated business disputes in state and federal courts.
Rebecca Rogers: Rebecca is a 2006 graduate of Boston College Law School, and has worked with slnlaw since 2013. She previously worked as an intellectual property litigation attorney for Fish & Richardson in Boston, Massachusetts, and clerked for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Rebecca has helped clients with business contracts, employment contracts, and employment law advice.
Jenna Ordway: Jenna is a 2013 graduate of Quinnipiac Law School, and also earned an LLM in Taxation from Boston University in 2015. She has been affiliated with slnlaw since 2011, first as a law clerk and then as an attorney. Jenna has been recognized since 2019 as a "Rising Star" by Massachusetts Superlawyers. Jenna has helped many small business owners with simple and complex business incorporation, contract review, advice and analysis regarding business disputes, employment law advice, and advice about business succession considerations as part of estate planning.
Elijah Bresley: Eli is a 2014 graduate of Seton Hall Law school, and has worked with slnlaw since 2020. He previously worked for a boutique employment law firm outside of Boston, and then for the Labor and Employment department of a large Boston firm. He also spent a year clerking for the judges of the Superior Court in Hartford, Connecticut. Eli has helped our small business clients with employment law advice and defense of employment-related lawsuits in MCAD and state and federal courts.
Sharleen Tinnin: Sharleen is a 2010 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, and has been with slnlaw since 2023. Prior to joining slnlaw, she worked with King, Tilden, McEttrick & Brink, P.C. on complex civil litigation matters. She previously worked for the United States Department of Justice, and received an "Excellence in Justice" award in 2017. Sharleen has helped clients litigate business disputes in state and federal courts, and advised business owners about succession considerations as part of their estate planning.
How We Can Help
At slnlaw, we can help you resolve intricate business disputes with our proven track record in breach of contract, unfair business practices, non-compete threats, and equity disputes. Our dedicated legal team will work tirelessly to safeguard your business interests and achieve favorable outcomes. You can click the button below to schedule a free information call, or call us at (781) 784-2322.
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Jenna Ordway
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